---
title: "Attendance Tracking Overview"
slug: "attendance-tracking-overview"
updated: 2024-09-18T13:52:23Z
published: 2024-09-18T13:52:23Z
canonical: "www.procaresupport.com/attendance-tracking-overview"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.procaresupport.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Attendance Tracking Overview

Attendance Tracker lets you record hours for children and/or staff (with [Employee Data](/procare-desktop/docs/employee-data-overview-add-employee)), charge attendance based fees, and import staff hours to [Payroll Checks](/procare-desktop/docs/individual-payroll-check-calculation). You may send messages to parents when they check children in and display recent accounting history, immunizations due, etc.

## Time Cards & Ways to Check In

You’ll need to know the basics about how Child Time Cards work and the various methods for checking children in and out.

- **Time Cards**: Manual entries can be made on the [Child Time Card](/procare-desktop/docs/child-time-card) whenever needed.
- **Batch Attendance**: Check groups of children in or out using [Batch Check In](/procare-desktop/docs/child-batch-check-in-or-out) (bus runs, etc.) or [Batch Post Time Card](/procare-desktop/docs/child-batch-post-time-card) (both in *and* out).
- **Family Check In**: Learn how to set [Check-In Options](/procare-desktop/docs/check-in-options) and [Check Children In](/procare-desktop/docs/check-in-station) from a computer terminal.
- **[Receptionist Check In](/procare-desktop/docs/receptionist-check-in)**: Front desk personnel may check children in on behalf of an authorized pick up.

## Get Ready to use a Check-In Computer

1. Begin by setting the center’s *Time Card* Options in the *Family Data* portion of [Configuration](/procare-desktop/docs/region-and-school-options). If employees will be checking in, also configure the *Employee Data* portion.
2. On each child’s [Information & Relationships](/procare-desktop/docs/child-information-relationships) screen, make sure the *Pickup* box is checked for parents / pickup people, and the [Child Check-In Requirements](https://www.procaresupport.com/procare-desktop/docs/check-in-station#what-is-required-for-a-child-to-be-checked-in) are completed.  If employees are also checking in, make sure the [Employee Check-In Requirements](https://www.procaresupport.com/procare-desktop/docs/check-in-station-1#what-is-required-for-an-employee-to-check-in) are complete.
3. Assign [Temporary Registration Numbers](/procare-desktop/docs/temporary-registration-number-for-check-in) to the authorized pickup people for children.
4. Set up [Check-In Options](/procare-desktop/docs/check-in-options) at the check-In computer.
5. Have families/employees use their *temporary registration numbers* to [Register at the Check-In Computer.](/procare-desktop/docs/register-a-pickup-person-or-employee)

## Other Things You May Want to Do

- Set up [Billing Formulas](/procare-desktop/docs/create-or-edit-a-billing-formula) to charge fees for attendance, overtime, etc.
- [Send Messages](/procare-desktop/docs/send-message) for people to see when they check in.
- Print [Attendance Reports.](/procare-desktop/docs/attendance-reports)